The Green Bay Packers’ win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday afternoon was hardly a pretty one. But although the 27-18 win made it feel like the team left points and opportunities out on the field
as a team, that’s not the case for a couple of key players.
One of those individuals, Josh Jacobs, is among the Packers’ most prominent players and one who has been a critical piece of the team since he arrived in Green Bay before last season. Another, Lucas Havrisik, signed with the team on Saturday and stepped up to make every kick he attempted — notably scoring nine points on two field goals and three PATs in a game that the Packers won by nine.
Both players went through adversity to post their big games as well. For Jacobs, it was illness, as he was dealing with flu symptoms before and during the game. As for Havrisik, it’s a very different kind; the journeyman attempted his first NFL kicks in nearly two years in this game, and some familiarity with specific teammates surely helped him put in a performance that earned him the game ball on Sunday.
Game notes: Josh Jacobs was in his element while under the weather | Packers.com
You’d never know that Jacobs had the flu and was vomiting on the sidelines during Sunday’s game, given his stat line with 150 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns.
Josh Jacobs battles through illness, has 2 TDs in Packers win | ESPN
The last time Jacobs was sick during a game, he had a big game as well, going for 130 yards and two scores when with the Raiders.
From substitute teacher to substitute kicker, Packers’ Lucas Havrisik comes up big | The Athletic ($)
Havrisik hadn’t kicked in the NFL since 2023 (against the Packers in Lambeau Field, no less!) but his connections with the Packers’ other specialists Matt Orzech and Daniel Whelan made him feel at home for his brief stint. After all, his brother and Orzech were roommates in college and the trio has worked out together in the offseason in the past.
Packers shore up field-goal protection, other bonus takeaways from a 27-18 win over Bengals | Packersnews.com ($)
With Elgton Jenkins in for all of the place-kick attempts, Havrisik was able to be comfortable and just kick without worrying too much about his protection.
Packers Will Be Killed by Lack of Killer Instinct | SI.com
Choosing to punt from the Bengals’ 42-yard line on 4th and 5 while leading 10-0 was another maddeningly conservative decision by Matt LaFleur.
Lions’ Dan Campbell on Brian Branch’s postgame strike of Juju Smith-Schuster: ‘What he did is inexcusable’ | NFL.com
And what did Branch do immediately after apologizing for his conduct? He made excuses for it.
Denver hosts 31-mile run where racers have to constantly consume Taco Bell | KYGO.com
Can we just do the consuming Taco Bell part without the 31-mile run part?
